Posture system



Feb. 8, 1949. D. M. ACKERMAN POSTURE SYSTEM Filed Dec. 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNE M m m fl M M T E u a D D. M. ACKERMAN Feb. 8, 1949.

POSTURE SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1944 ark; INVENTOR. DOLLETTA M. ACKERMAN.

ATTO R N EYi Patented Feb. 8, 1949 i iv 461,105 messes SYSTEM 7 unseen. Ak'ckerma'n; fifglesj Califf ApplicatioriDeceinber 21, 1944,-SerialNo.= 569;1'14" I role'im's:

Tia-s v n s re e is been, pe s n a: paratus an d more easily; to animprovedposture sys't'eirisnd rriearis for correctingfposture U Anoliject of the inyention is to provide asim pie}; practical alridfefiicierit means for' correcting i 'mii d r e p wre. ,r r l Another object of-th'einvention i sto provide a posture correcting apparatus adapted for; actnig p'ii several partsioilthe body simultaneously. A fiiitlieiobject of-the inventio'n i s; to provide posture correction apparatus of the; character described which is oi" manufacture and adapted or adjustabili ty for use with persons av a tah re n: Additional objects will appearland be brought out niofe fully in. the following specification reference being had'to the accompanying drawvhvefin s .7 o i .r Fig. l is perspective view of a table embodying :o f niy inventipn. H

2 1 a fragmentary view partly in section showing-fine foot roller mounting features M is a"sectional elevationof a modified forgot-treatment table.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4- 4 Off Fig. 3: p

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 33"- 6 s? e s m ar Qi v 3:, h at :7 Vacuum cup features of the invention applied providethe' table with an inclination such that i.

the-feet of the person are somewhat higher than the head. Legs I l or l2 or both may be provided with means is for adjustment in length in any well-known manner if desired. Table it is provided with a central cut-out portion M and a cut-out portion Ma and a pair'of brackets which provide pivot supports for a pair of rockarms 16 positioned on either side of the table. Other equivalent adjusting and locking means may be provided if desired. A plurality of rollers 2| are mounted between bearing blocks 18, it being understood that rollers 2! may be of any suitable construction, such as soft or hard rubber, sponge rubber or plastic or the equivalent.

A motor 22 is suitably mounted under table (01% res-2:57) V 2 ti ns has? drive-shaft 23'; a? bear hezflner erbi being-provided and secured to tablelll. A-craril is'rr'i'ou nt'e'don the end; of shaft 2'3 and is m'i-lar' to rollers 21.; g -a 1 y asses-learners 3| are mounted 4 pairs of" bars 32 are vertically recipfocable in guide blo'cks' secured adjacent t ieeii dof table? l0 pair" of frocli' iever' 3 4'are' 'haft" SSuridftablilfl and' roclred' by lin lg; tfi connecte'd" to crankl pin 26-;oncrank 1"" 25. Bass: are curved at 40' and ap'air of rs fill are se ments as snow in: Fig; 2. A connected to bars32 so that rollers re" ni'ove d forwardly arid" backwardly as they are cipio'o'atedve'rtically" by'ro'ck levers; A' suitalri'le hood or s ver sense he providedi' over rbll'ers 2i" to fireve'fit accidental injurious corienamel. A -tab le'lflis provided with-extenri'l'eafis 3i} w'l'i'ichfrnaybe suitably securedby leer; screws 3 b'yl'wl iich the length of the table W M f deal t6 accommodate persons of 7. wen or men the foregoing-description the operation o'f the invention should be apparent. The runfling df'rnotof 22" turns cranlidiscii and rocks arms 1'5 vfh h carry rollers 21, 30 andSila and'bacliwardly in such manner that ll s2 l are" being rnoved forwardly rollers d rair w'ardly atthe same time 'ca'ted forwardly, backwardly,

inwardly, a should Ice-clear.

flhegp ersbn'bfe' treatee wm i on the table with the Hands graspin strap 44 and the feet against rollers 3!. 7 When the rollers are actuated in the manner specified rollers 2|, 3B and 30a will roll forwardly and backwardly along the front and back torsal portions and shoulders of the body and the rollers 3| will flex the feet. As stated herein above the person to be treated may lie on the table, and the adjustment of oily and dtioning of the patient on the table.

pro ded with" a crank vpin it -which engages" a a}; dfiild in; submit portions [4 and Ma blocks I9 in slots I! will provide a varying degree.

In the Figs. 3 to 6 I show modified features of the invention. In these figures the rollers and 30a are mounted in brackets which are slidable vertically so as to be dropped below the top of the table, the brackets being provided with looking screws 46 which hold the brackets in upper position when so operated. Rollers 80 are mounted in a curved track 4'! which moves the rollers in a curved path such as to follow the small of the back, and thus to produce a maximum effect without injury to the patient.

In Fig. 6 I show further modified features which comprises a frame 48 which is adapted to be placed in a longitudinal recess 49 in the top of the table frame 48 having a tubular passage for connection to a vacuum tube 50 which is connected to a vacuum pump 5| suitably driven by motor 22. A plurality of shallow vacuum cups 52 are connected to frame 48, cups 52 being of progressively smaller diameter toward the head end of the table, the arrangement being such that thecups 52 lie under and along the back of the person being treated. A tube 53 is suitably connected to vacuum line 50 and has an open end 53 which can be intermittently closed with a finger to provide a fluctuating vacuum effect at the cups 52 which intermittent or pulsating vacuum effect is most desirable for satisfactory actuation of the invention.

In Fig. 7 I show a modified or substituted form of roller mounting. In this figure a plurality of rollers are provided with ball end shafts 61 which are carried in bearing blocks l8a for pivotal mounting in trunnion blocks lea adapted to be secured at the slotted ends I! of rock arms [5, rollers 21 and bearing'blocks 18 being removed and replaced by rollers 60 and bearing blocks 18a when the rollers of the form of Fig. 7 are to be used on the table. A pair of bracket pieces 62 pivotally connected together at 63 provide mounting for the inner ends of the shafts of rollers 50, anda clamp screw 54 provided with an adjusting nut 65 is secured to the ends of pieces 52 by which said'pieces may be drawn together and change the angular relation of rollers 60. A

spring 66 is mounted on bolt 54 and serves to separate pieces 62 and raise the inner ends of rollers 52 so that the rollers have a variable angular relation to provide rolling contact to conform somewhat to the figure of the person to betreated. I provide a hood or cover 43a over rollers 00 and similar to hood 43.

Table I0 is provided with a pair of arm rests 55, formed substantially as shown and preferably of resilient material or padded, the rests being mounted on members 56 as secured to adjustably positioned blocks 51 slidably mounted in slots 58 in table 10 and secured in adjusted positions by a screw type or plunger holding pin 59. Arm rests 55 serve to render the person to be treated in a more comfortable position when on the table.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a posture system, a table for the support of a person to be treated thereon and having apertures therein, a plurality of transverse rollers in said apertures, a plurality of transverse rollers spaced above said table, said rollers being mounted to be longitudinally reciprocable relative to the length of the table, and means to reciprocate said rollers, said last named rollers being moved forwardly when said first named rollers are moved ba-ckwardly and vice versa, said means including a pair of rock arms for supporting said last named rollers.

2. In a posture system, a table for the support of a person to be treated thereon and having apertures therein, a plurality of transverse rollers in said apertures, a plurality of transverse rollers spaced above said table, said rollers being mounted to be longitudinally reciprocable relative to the length of the table, and means to reciprocate said rollers, said last named rollers being moved forwardly when said first named rollers are moved backwardly and vice versa, said means including a pair of rock arms for supporting said last named rollers and engageable with the supports of said first named rollers.

23. In a posture system, a table for the support of a person to be treated thereon and having apertures therein, a plurality of transverse rollers in said apertures, a plurality of transverse rollers spaced above said table, said rollers being mounted to be longitudinally reciprocable relative to the length of the table and a plurality of vertically movable rollers adapted to engage the feet.

4. In a posture system, a table for the support of a person to be treated thereon and having apertures therein, a plurality of transverse rollers in said apertures, a plurality of transverse rollers spaced above said table, said rollers being mounted to be longitudinally reciproc able relative to the length of the table and a plurality of horizontally and vertically movable'rollers adapted to engage the feet.

DOLLETTA M. ACKERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 857,761 Schmidt June 25, 1907 1,004,300 Pope Sept. 26, 1911 1,142,422 Hawley June 8, 1915 1,185,583 Bond May 30, 1916 1,501,341 Hoard July 15, 1924 1,616,085 Rosenquist Feb. 1, 1927 2,218,443 Tweddle Oct. 15, 1940 

